An Austin-based drone company has landed federal approval for what it calls a first-of-its-kind authorization: flying an uncrewed aircraft far out over Gulf waters to reach an offshore oil platform. Skyways says the Federal Aviation Administration has authorized it to conduct a long-range, beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight from a Shell facility on the Louisiana coast to offshore infrastructure, a step the company is framing as a breakthrough for autonomous aviation in the United States.
The planned mission would send Skyways’ V2 aircraft from Shell Pipeline Company LP’s facility in Gibson, Louisiana, out to an offshore platform, according to a PR Newswire announcement from the company. The release describes the approval as “the first authorization of its kind for an uncrewed aircraft,” allowing Skyways to operate from the U.S. coastline out over the high seas. The evidence available does not establish that the flight itself has occurred yet — only that the authorization has been granted for the planned operation.
Once underway, the flight is meant to do double duty. Per the same PR Newswire release, the aircraft will inspect a pipeline right-of-way along the route and also demonstrate a simulated delivery of critical equipment to the platform — a test of whether autonomous aircraft can handle both monitoring and logistics work far from shore.
A Hybrid Aircraft Built for Distance
Skyways describes its V2 as a hybrid design, combining electric vertical takeoff and landing capability with a heavy-fuel cruise engine and satellite-based command and control, according to the company’s statement. That combination is meant to let the aircraft take off like a helicopter but cruise efficiently over long offshore distances without a pilot aboard or even within sight. The Austin American-Statesman reports that Skyways’ drones resemble small airplanes rather than typical consumer drones, and that the company has tested vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in Central Texas, including V3 Block 1 and V2.6 test flights near Giddings…